Scottish Flashback: Edinburgh Zoo penguins, 1978

IN OUR first of 12 ‘Christmas’ Flashbacks, we’re at Edinburgh Zoo in 1978.

Father Christmas had time on his way to Jenners department store in Princes Street to stop off at the Zoo and see if any of the resident penguins would care for some mince pies or some Christmas pudding.

However, Santa was met with a frosty reception from the birds, who declined his offer.

There have been penguins at Edinburgh Zoo since the Christian Salvesen whaling expedition brought back three king penguins in January 1914.

The first chick hatched in 1919 - the first penguin to be hatched in captivity.

These were the first penguins to be seen outside of the South Atlantic anywhere in the world.